I. noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a modal verb (= a verb that is used with other verbs to express ideas such as possibility, permission, or intention. In English, these verbs are 'can', 'could', 'may', 'might', 'shall', 'should', 'will', 'would', 'must', 'ought to', 'used to', 'need', and 'had better' )
modal auxiliary
modal verb
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪
Infinitival usage after how and why thus confirms our analysis of the way the modals are put into relation with the infinitive.
▪
There are no stylistic flourishes, such as departures from the basic syntax through the use of modals, questions and negatives.
▪
Where do evokes the infinitive as a reality, the modals evoke it as a potentiality.
II. adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
auxiliary
▪
The use of dare as a modal auxiliary follows the same pattern as need.
meaning
▪
The expression of modal meanings can take quite a different form in each language.
▪
In the second place, the modal meaning is derivable from the canonical lexical meaning but not the other way round.
verb
▪
No sign of grammar here: no interrogative forms, modal verbs , question tags; no sentence at all.
▪
The grammatical syllabus concentrates on verb forms, in particular the tense system, and modal verbs.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪
A 10% fall in seven author papers occurred during 1989-91 when the modal author number rose to 6.
▪
On a size frequency histogram the size class in which the greatest percentage of grains is represented provides the modal class.
▪
On the size frequency distribution plot the highest point on the curve provides the modal value.
▪
Others introduce Gregorian or modal material on high days and special occasions.
▪
The different modal authorship numbers could explain why this was not seen.
▪
The emperor is confronted with the case of a modal legacy, the modus being restitution of some property to another individual.
▪
The expression of modal meanings can take quite a different form in each language.
▪
Working in pairs the students readily found contexts in which some of the modal forms are used, but not all.